Q&A Forum

Credit Payment Systems & Terms

We've experienced an increase in accounts switching to Credit Card payment systems using V-Card, P-Card systems. We're talking B2B payments - usually in the $2-5k range, some >$25k. Business is conducted using Purchase Orders, manufacturing (quick turn around), Sales Orders, well documented confirmations, commercial freight, Invoices, etc. In most cases these are well established customers who had previously operated with net-30 day terms. Banks and credit card vendors approach companies with offers of payment systems to extend payment days and/or earn incentives from the payment systems. These are frequently large companies - not a case of a small business owner looking to use VI/MC/AX for frequent flyer programs. Obvious issue of increased CC Merchant fees, but that is acceptable if offset by quicker collection days. The challenge occurs when some of these companies wait 30+ days before authorizing the Payment card transaction. It's one thing to trade extended terms to quick CC merchant transactions, but what do you do when companies take terms AND use Payment card transactions? If your company has switched to a Payment system what has the Card system promised you? Are you told that you could/should wait 30-days before authorizing payment? What are the other reasons that your company switched to a Payment card system? How have you addressed terms with your suppliers when switching or instituting a card payment system? If you are the vendor - is this an issue? How have you addressed this issue with the customer? Better to deal with Accounts Payable, the account sales rep, or perhaps go to a higher decision maker?

Answers

John, you can update your payment terms so that payments with cards are net10 and check/ACH payments are net30. This is what I've seen with other clients. Train your sales organization to consistently follow this practice for new and existing accounts.

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